Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what comparative assessment he has made of (a) the level of psychiatric morbidity and suicide rate and (b) expenditure on mental health in Northern Ireland and other nations of the UK.
Answered by Kris Hopkins
The issue of mental health and expenditure on mental health in Northern Ireland is devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive.
The Office of National Statistics does however, release regular statistics on the rate of deaths by suicide across the United Kingdom. The statistics can be found at:
Officials from the Department of Health engage with their counterparts in the Devolved Administrations on these statistics, and they discuss whether there are areas for learning on tackling mental health problems.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what measures her Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Phillip Lee
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Wellbeing Strategy, launched in November 2015, sets out MoJ’s commitment to supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of all our staff.
Employees can find additional information and signposting to the support available on internal Wellbeing pages on the MoJ intranet, and can seek advice and peer support from the MoJ Disability Staff Networks. In addition our independent Employee Assistance Provision provides confidential counselling sessions for employees, 24 hour telephone support, coaching for managers, mediation and group counselling.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Alan Duncan
We have in place a number of support offers including the provision of ongoing medical and welfare support for staff in the UK and those posted overseas; a dedicated disability support team, occupational health advice and a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what measures her Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The Department for Education has an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Plan, which is updated annually. The plan includes a section on support for people with mental health problems, and to help people to manage staff with mental health problems.
Support provided includes mental health awareness training and an employee assistance service which staff can call at any time to obtain confidential support and advice.
In September 2014, the Permanent Secretary signed the Time to Change pledge to affirm the Department’s commitment to ending stigma about mental health. The Department also has an active Wellbeing network, with over 100 members, which has promoted events to raise awareness of mental health issues.
In early 2017, mental health first aiders will be available in each of the Department’s buildings and will receive training to help them recognise the signs and symptoms of mental health problems and offer appropriate support. They will also act as a source of advice and help for staff.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Marcus Jones
Civil Service Employee Policy provides a central health and well-being service to support departments in their well-being work.
In 2015, the People Board agreed a strategic approach to health and well-being for the Civil Service. This identified mental health as a key priority. This strategic approach was developed into a Strategic Action Plan, which has now been successfully implemented.
Wellbeing is a key part of the DCLG People Plan. The Plan sets out the Department's strategic commitment to establish and maintain good health amongst staff in the business. The commitments and actions linked to wellbeing are delivered jointly by the Department's Human Resources directorate and the Health and Wellbeing Network.
Specific support for staff within DCLG with mental health problems includes:
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Attorney General:
To ask the Attorney General, what measures the Law Officers' Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Robert Buckland
Civil Service Employee Policy provides a central health and well-being service to support departments in their well-being work.
In 2015, the People Board agreed a strategic approach to health and well-being for the Civil Service. This identified mental health as a key priority. This strategic approach was developed into a Strategic Action Plan, which has now been successfully implemented.
The Law Officers’ Departments provide all staff with access to an Employee Assistance Programme. The service is confidential and includes a 24hours a day, 365 days a year free helpline. Staff can speak to an advisor who will listen and help to explore ways forward on a range of issues including mental health– this can include information, advice, signposting to other local or national services, referral for telephone or face-to-face counselling, or a combination of these. All departments have developed arrangements and policies that support wellbeing, including flexible working and special leave arrangements.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by David Mowat
Civil Service Employee Policy provides a central health and well-being service to support departments in their well-being work.
In 2015, the People Board agreed a strategic approach to health and well-being for the Civil Service. This identified mental health as a key priority. This strategic approach was developed into a Strategic Action Plan, which has now been successfully implemented.
Support for individuals with mental health problems is provided by line managers and through the occupational health programme. Where appropriate, reasonable adjustments are made, to support the effective participation in work of people with longer term mental health problems.
In addition, the Department has a comprehensive staff Health and Well-being Programme designed by staff, for staff. It has three themes:
- preventing aims to reduce work-related ill-health at source - musculoskeletal issues and stress are key target areas;
- developing encourages development of competences and participation in physical activity to aid individual well-being and growth; and
- supporting signposts staff to sources of help and support.
Specifically on mental health, the Department:
- delivers two day Mental Health First Aid training courses in London and Leeds; and half-day Mental Health First Aid Lite courses;
- supports and promotes a network of Mental Health First Aiders;
- delivers Tackling Stress at Work courses using the Health and Safety Executive’s Management Standards framework;
- signposts staff to courses on mental health that are available through Civil Service Learning; and
- delivers an programme of events around World Mental Health Day in October, which this year included pledge boards across the Departmental estate and tea and talk sessions.
The Department also provides access to an Employment Assistance Programme, which is advertised to staff via the intranet. It promotes The Charity for Civil Servants, whose services include a mental health helpline and signposts to MIND, the Samaritans and internal staff networks where staff can get help and assistance.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what measures her Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Rob Wilson
Civil Service Employee Policy provides a central health and well-being service to support departments in their well-being work.
The Department provides information and support to help all employees to stay well and manage their health conditions at work. This support includes a variety of programmes like occupational health support, counselling support through the Employee Assistance Programme and the Civil Service workplace adjustments service which helps with adjustments for employees suffering from a mental health condition.
The Department is a signatory to the Time to Change Pledge and raises awareness through national campaigns such as the “Time to Talk” day and the Mental Health Awareness Week.
The Department supports the Employee Mental Health Network with a Senior Civil Servant Champion and has introduced Mental Health Champions who are trained to provide support and guide people towards appropriate professional help. The Network has had the visible support of the Department’s Permanent Secretary and at DCMS Ministerial level.
The Civil Service Unconscious Bias training is mandatory for all employees and the Department is working with line managers to support individuals with mental health conditions, part of which is encouraging line managers to undertake Mental Health Awareness eLearning.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by Robin Walker
The Department for Exiting the European Union is committed to ensuring staff with mental health problems do not face any barriers to success. The Department has two dedicated disability champions and an equalities network to provide support. We are also in the process of introducing training for a number of our staff to enable them to become mental health first aiders. The Department is putting plans in place to ensure the steps established in the 2016 Talent Action Plan are in place in order to help the Civil Service become the most inclusive employer in the UK.
Asked by: Helen Whately (Conservative - Faversham and Mid Kent)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what measures his Department has in place to support those of its staff who have mental health problems.
Answered by John Hayes
The Department for Transport (DfT) and its agencies take the mental wellbeing of its staff very seriously. DfT has a variety of policies and programmes designed to help staff that find themselves suffering with poor mental health.
DfT has recently published an easy to access, practical guide for line managers on how they can support mental wellbeing in the workplace. It also includes advice on understanding the early warning signs and how to manage difficult conversations around mental health.
DfT also supports workplace adjustment passports which are a living record of adjustments that a disabled member of staff requires, including staff with mental health problems. These documents are designed to do the following:
A) Ensure that both parties, the individual and the employer, have an accurate record of what has been agreed
B) Minimise the need to re-negotiate workplace adjustments every time the employee changes jobs, is re-located or assigned a new manager within the organisation
C) Provide employees and their line managers with the basis for discussions about workplace adjustments at future meetings.
DfT has an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). EAP support is tailored to the department and is provided by expert staff who understand our business. It offers support and signposts individuals to advice on things such as bereavement, depression, and anxiety. It also offers counselling sessions.
DfT has a Mental Health Buddy Network, set up by staff, for staff. It connects people who are suffering from mental health problems with another member of staff who is able to meet with them in complete confidence. The buddies are aware that they are not trained psychiatrists; they do not give advice but provide a listening ear, and signpost to the relevant, professional organisations.
DfT has a dedicated mental health staff network, Time to Change, which is dedicated to changing the department’s culture, and remove the stigma surrounding mental health.